By Ebinum Samuel
Police Service Commission Staff Monitors have arrived Ondo State to monitor the conduct of Police Officers on electoral duties during Saturday’s Governorship election in the state.
The Staff Monitors are in Ondo State to ensure that the Police conduct themselves within approved rules and regulations and in line with established rules of engagement.
The Commission Monitors are expected to be in all the Local government areas in the state.
Commission Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd mni charged PSC Ambassadors to also conduct themselves creditably and not succumb to pressure and dilute the essence of the assignment. He said the Commission will continue to contribute to the sustenance and deepening of the nation’s democratic process.
The PSC Chairman said holding the Police accountable for its actions and inactions during the election will promote greater dedication to duty by the Officers and generally ensure the success of the elections.
He charged the Officers to be firm but friendly and polite to the electorate stressing that they must ensure that the voters, the voting materials and the voting environment are protected and safe. He said the Police as the lead Agency in internal security which includes election security must play a leadership role in ensuring a free, fair and credible election in Ondo State.
The Commission had on Monday, November 11th 2024 conducted a workshop on election security monitoring at its Parry Osayande Auditorium where CP Balarabe Nayaya rtd, the Technical Assistant to the Chairman presented a paper to the travelling Monitors.
Cp Nayaya said the Monitors must be knowledgeable on the operations of Police men on electoral duties to be able to meaningfully monitor their conduct . He presented a brief on what the Police men on election duties should do and not do and advised that the Monitors should be guided by the brief while on the assignment.
Meanwhile the Commission, through spokesman, Ikechukwuu Ani, has provided dedicated telephone numbers for Nigerians to call to complain or commend the conduct of the Police during the election. The numbers are;
Ondo central -08033148814
Ondo South -08065265651
Ondo North
-07046756445
Media Coordination
-08033345362